The Defenseman’s Perspective: How to Protect the Middle of the Ice

The shortest distance to the net is through middle ice (between the dots) so you’d better be prepared to defend this area. Goal scorers know the importance of entering and exiting the neutral zone (NZ) with speed and puck control. It’s much harder for a puck carrier to take the puck wide outside the dots and beat a defender with speed to the outside and drive the net than it is to take the puck directly at a defender, push it through them, and pick it up on the other side.

Defensemen Strategy & Tactics

In the clip below the puck carrier has full control in the neutral zone and is able to beat two defenders by pushing the puck through the defenders, picking it up on the other side, and going in all alone on the goalie. Lucky for the defenders, the puck carrier didn’t score on the play. The talented player with the puck makes the two defenders look bad because of their failure to defend against a play that should be easy to defend. The following are the keys to defending middle ice in the neutral zone:

Proper Angling Technique: the ability to use inside out control on a puck carrier by controlling/protecting middle ice and forcing the puck carrier to the outside. Taking the correct approach angle toward the puck carrier is key. The defender must judge the skating ability and speed of the puck carrier because the only option for the puck carrier is to take the puck wide and beat the defender with speed. The player angling the puck carrier must get shoulder to shoulder with the opponent and NOT reach first before playing body, stick, or puck. A player who has mastered angling technique and fundamentals never gets beat to the inside.

Playing Body/Stick/Puck: the ability to be in a good hockey position; right amount of knee flexion, butt out with chest over thighs, weight on the inside of the feet. This positioning and balance helps players get shoulder to shoulder with the puck carrier so they can separate the player from the puck. Tell your players to get their stick under the puck carrier’s to gain access to the puck. The puck separation through the checking motion is non violent. The goal is to regain puck possession, not to knock the player over or down.

Defensemen Defending the Blue Line: the ability to defend the blue line requires the defensemen to match the speed of the oncoming puck carrier by skating backward between the dots. The defenseman can then protect the middle of the ice by giving the puck carrier only one option to beat him: the outside. The defensemen’s partner must play between the dots as well, backing up a couple stick lengths to protect middle ice. A defensemen must have the skills and abilities to pivot to the outside and use speed to close the gap and get into the puck carrier taking away space forcing the puck carrier to the wall. Defensemen must play tight gaps in the neutral zone to ensure their ability to match an oncoming forward’s speed with the puck at their blue line and play one stick length gap at the blue line. A skilled defensemen doesn’t give away the blue line by continuing to back up when there is defensive back pressure support from forwards.

DefensemenOne on OnePlay – Body First, Not the Puck: the ability of a defensemen to defend against a puck carrier in a one on one situation with the puck carrier entering the offensive zone requires strong fundamentals.

Back up between the dots, protect middle ice.

Match the puck carrier’s speed with backward skating speed.

Good posture matters and assures the ability to remain in balance, weight never forward on your toes.

Eyes on the puck carrier’s sternum and not on the puck. Your peripheral vision allows you to see the puck while your eyes are on the chest.

Keep your stick arm bent at the elbow so that you can poke or sweep check effectively. Never reach out with a straight arm fishing with weight forward on your toes.

Always keep your body between the puck carrier and your net and get your shoulder into the puck carrier when playing the body.

Timing of your pivot is key to being able to close the gap and stay with the puck carrier as your force him wide (outside the dots) towards the wall.

In the clip the defender #26 stopped skating when he attempted to angle the player wide and chose to reach and play the puck instead of getting shoulder to shoulder and play body/stick/puck. Never play puck first and reach when you’re angling an opponent.
The defensemen made the following mistakes in his execution of the one on one:

Weight was forward on the toes and he was reaching with his stick too far forward to playing puck

Eyes were on the puck NOT the opponent’s chest

Played the puck first instead of the body

Allowed the puck carrier inside his stick length which is always fatal

Failed to force the puck carrier wide and gave away middle ice

Development Focus

Remind your young players to focus on proper technique and fundamentals. There is right and wrong way in executing fundamentals, no easy way. Good players practice what they are weak at in addition to their strengths.

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About the Author

Mike Coldham

Mike has over 25 years of coaching experience as a Technical Mentor Coach of people in Business and Sports. Now retired after 35 years of public service, Mike created the TLPF website to support the development of competitive minor hockey players. Mike works with competitive hockey players to help them learn how to play faster which requires tactical knowledge and skills.